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COVID-19 Viruses.
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The severe acute respiratory syndrome
or SARS-Coronavirus II virus,
is an encapsulated virus which measures,
approximately 125 nanometers in diameter.
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It contains a single strand
positive sense RNA genome,
measuring 26 to 32 kilobytes,
it is the largest of all RNA viruses.
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The SARS-Coronavirus II contains,
four structural proteins,
the first three are the
“S-Protein” or “Spike” protein,
“E-Protein” or “Envelope” protein
and “M-Protein” or “Membrane” protein.
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Together, these three proteins constitute,
the viral envelope, which is
so characteristically seen,
by electron microscopy.
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The lipid membrane is next
in the structure of the virus
and then the “N-Protein,” is
the nuclear capsid protein,
this encloses and provides
attachment or complexing points,
with the RNA strand the RNA genome,
it also helps regulate the RNA synthesis.
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The S-protein or spike protein,
is perhaps the most infamous or perhaps famous,
in terms of the science and discovery
involving the SARS-Coronavirus II virus.
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It is an appearance club
shaped or even crown like,
when seen from the surface on
scanning electron microscopy.
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It is, of course, responsible
for the binding of the virus,
to its target cells via the
acetylcholinesterase II receptor,
on epithelial cells and
including some endothelial cells,
in the host cell membrane.
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It is also the target of most current
vaccines against the SARS-Coronavirus II.
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The E-protein or envelope protein,
is responsible of course for viral assembly
and the M-protein for membrane
also for viral assembly,
as well as participating in release
of newly formed virions or viruses,
from their target cells.
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As you can imagine, there is an
incredible amount of discovery ongoing,
for this particular virus as it
is causing the global pandemic,
we know as COVID-19.
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Yet, more remains to be described
as we go further into understanding,
the impact and structure of
this very important virus.